Flurry of moves nets C.R. Rampage a goal scorer in Gurson

CEDAR RAPIDS – Frustrated after his team's 11-4 New Year's Eve loss to the Missouri Comets, Cedar Rapids Rampage Coach Jeff Kraft vowed changes would have to be made.

It appears the club was quite busy during the off week.

The Rampage announced a flurry of player transactions on Wednesday, highlighted by the acquisition of forward Gordy Gurson from the St. Louis Ambush in exchange for cash.

'Gordy comes from being rookie of the year and scoring a lot of goals,' Kraft said. 'I think lately that's where we've had some trouble, putting the ball away. He's going to help out tremendously.'

Gurson, 23, will debut for the Rampage (1-10) Friday at 7:05 p.m. against the winless Harrisburg Heat at the U.S. Cellular Center, the first of two games on consecutive nights against Eastern Division teams. Cedar Rapids hosts the Syracuse Silver Knights (5-4) on Saturday.

'Things worked its way out and I'm very blessed and happy to be here,' said Gurson, a native of Buffalo Grove, Ill. 'It's like a second chance and a fresh start and I'm really excited that it's here.'

The Rampage have indeed struggled to put the ball in the net, evidenced by just 10 goals in their last three games. Gurson is the reigning Major Arena Soccer League Rookie of the Year after scoring 46 goals in 23 games for the Seattle Impact and St. Louis last season. This year, he tallied 16 goals in nine games with St. Louis, including four in the first half of a Dec. 19 game at the U.S. Cellular Center, which the Rampage won, 9-7.

'I'm usually just in the right spot at the right time,' Gurson said. 'I'm not the best player, but with better players around me like Hewerton (Moreira) and Chile (Farias) and (Alex) Megson, those guys can hold the ball off and play off me, and I think with (Elmo) Neto as well, we're going to be very solid up top.'

Neto (eight goals, nine assists in seven games) is expected back for Friday's game after missing the last three games while tending to family matters in his home country of Brazil.

Cedar Rapids also signed forward Blake Ordell, defender Bobby Hurwitz and goalkeeper Jeff Richey. Ordell, 30, played 18 games with St. Louis last season, scoring 15 goals with seven assists. Hurwitz appeared in 13 games last season with Seattle/Tacoma Stars. Richey posted a .788 save percentage and 4-2 record last season with Milwaukee.

'All around it's good changes,' Kraft said. 'We have some guys that can put the ball away and also defensively.'

Kevin Jackson will also make his playing debut Friday for Cedar Rapids. The 29-year-old forward was signed before the season but has been out due to injury. Jackson had 10 goals and three assists over the past two seasons in Wichita.

Forwards Corey Adamson and Semir Mesanovic, midfielders Robert Acosta and Lionardo Valzquez and former Iowa City West prep Spencer Nash were released.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com